One of the many reasons why someone would support Obama for President is his balanced approach to reality. He seems to know both sides of virtually any issue and takes both into consideration. While such an approach may not always result in a policies that would please totally extreme partisans, it is refreshingly honest and thoughtful.
Helping the poor will most likely not happen by hurting the rich. Funding for urban schools will not increase if successful schools have to have significantly less. We will not address our urban problems on the backs of rural America.
Obama's vision is captured by David Ignatius. Saying that we have "no good options" in Iraq basically reflects a reality. Whatever strategy is implemented to extricate ourselves from the morass caused by the untimely and poorly executed intervention will be messy at best. Hearing Obama articulate the difficulty adds credibility to his general approach.
We need someone with the ability to see problems as they are (also generally referenced as "reality") and the judgment to proceed thoughtfully and resolutely to execute decisions with the ability to change if necessary.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Grateful for being an American!
It is hard to be avoid being critical of the United States at the present time. The current administration has so distorted the rule of law that it would drive anyone insane! At the same time, it is great to be reminded how fortunate we are to live in this wonderful country, many of us purely by luck of being born here.
A wedding in Acapulco provided a beautiful setting for a most happy occasion. However, Mexico is not the United States! We enjoy so much freedom with a degree of economic security (however, not all and surely not experienced by many) with a set of laws that most people outside the current administration obey unless they want to experience time is an unpleasant setting, generally called a jail. To sense the economic hardship Mexicans experience trying to support themselves makes one see why so many try to enter this country one way or another. Seeing people working hard each day with relatively little to show for it and virtually no hope for "better days ahead" serves to sensitize me further to my good fortune and the need to extend economic hope to others. When you consider that Mexico is our "partner" in NAFTA, you would think that they would be significantly better off. However, once again, USA benefited disproportionately to the gains of our partner. Rather than imposing new fences to separate us, one would think that we would have opened our borders completely as the Europe has done after they become an economic and trading union. If there were no border control, two things would happen:(1) Mexico would receive more investments and would benefit by our involvement, and (2) the ready availability of more laborers would saturate the demand and the supply would finally abate. No one would come to this country to remain poor!
A wedding in Acapulco provided a beautiful setting for a most happy occasion. However, Mexico is not the United States! We enjoy so much freedom with a degree of economic security (however, not all and surely not experienced by many) with a set of laws that most people outside the current administration obey unless they want to experience time is an unpleasant setting, generally called a jail. To sense the economic hardship Mexicans experience trying to support themselves makes one see why so many try to enter this country one way or another. Seeing people working hard each day with relatively little to show for it and virtually no hope for "better days ahead" serves to sensitize me further to my good fortune and the need to extend economic hope to others. When you consider that Mexico is our "partner" in NAFTA, you would think that they would be significantly better off. However, once again, USA benefited disproportionately to the gains of our partner. Rather than imposing new fences to separate us, one would think that we would have opened our borders completely as the Europe has done after they become an economic and trading union. If there were no border control, two things would happen:(1) Mexico would receive more investments and would benefit by our involvement, and (2) the ready availability of more laborers would saturate the demand and the supply would finally abate. No one would come to this country to remain poor!
Distorted Reality!
When recalling my work history (try to do little of it!), I do recall trying to accurately write the implications of data. Most bureaucracy is driven by ideology of one sort of another; data is only generally useful if it supports the biases of the decision makers. Trying to reflect data, in short, can be an exercise in futility! Yet, I did feel compelled to do my best.
I find it incredible that the administration can find so many to write such distortions of history evidenced again by the President's speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Comparing Iraq to Vietnam is so distorted that one can only be amazed by language can be used to convey anything. In Iraq, we at least fought a nation-state with one objective, viz., the unification of "their" country. We made a peace deal with a specific leader of that nation-state. There was no civil war among those who defended "their" nation-state. How this set of affairs is comparable to the Iraq experience is beyond me.
In the same speech, the President dared the credibility of the American people once again by saying that "a free Iraq was in reach". Wow!
I find it incredible that the administration can find so many to write such distortions of history evidenced again by the President's speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Comparing Iraq to Vietnam is so distorted that one can only be amazed by language can be used to convey anything. In Iraq, we at least fought a nation-state with one objective, viz., the unification of "their" country. We made a peace deal with a specific leader of that nation-state. There was no civil war among those who defended "their" nation-state. How this set of affairs is comparable to the Iraq experience is beyond me.
In the same speech, the President dared the credibility of the American people once again by saying that "a free Iraq was in reach". Wow!
Art Captures Tragedy!
When you think of art, you associate beauty. However, a recent publication captured the photography of horror, the horror of war!
Nina Berman's photography zoned in on the terrible outcomes of the Iraq war on so many young military men. Admittedly, some of the pictures tear your insides to pieces, but one has to face the often silence about those who evade death only to live with mortal wounds.
How our "leader" can sleep with the continuous bombardment of tragedy is beyond me!
Nina Berman's photography zoned in on the terrible outcomes of the Iraq war on so many young military men. Admittedly, some of the pictures tear your insides to pieces, but one has to face the often silence about those who evade death only to live with mortal wounds.
How our "leader" can sleep with the continuous bombardment of tragedy is beyond me!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Diversity: is there a Downside?
Robert Putnam became famous with his book, "Bowling Alone". In that book, this sociologist noted that our citizenship behavior was eroding by the fast life-style that left no time for civic activities, including social activities that bonded us to others in the community.
In his recent work, he looked at the phenomenon of increased diversity within urban America. While diversity has been advocated as a means of increasing our capacity to bond with others who come from different backgrounds, what he found was the opposite was occurring. The differences among people were barriers to behaviors that are associated with helping one another.
Since this is a sociological study, he is only reflecting the results of his research. Diversity can still be positive, but apparently the positive behaviors do not happen automatically. We have to work to connect with others. One way to do this is to identify with the political process. Becoming a participant in the advocacy of political agendas that promote the common good will contribute to the civic bonding that was historically a characteristic of our nation.
In his recent work, he looked at the phenomenon of increased diversity within urban America. While diversity has been advocated as a means of increasing our capacity to bond with others who come from different backgrounds, what he found was the opposite was occurring. The differences among people were barriers to behaviors that are associated with helping one another.
Since this is a sociological study, he is only reflecting the results of his research. Diversity can still be positive, but apparently the positive behaviors do not happen automatically. We have to work to connect with others. One way to do this is to identify with the political process. Becoming a participant in the advocacy of political agendas that promote the common good will contribute to the civic bonding that was historically a characteristic of our nation.
An Approach towards Peace!
Joan Chittister is a relatively famous Benedictine nun. She is now relatively old (like me) but nevertheless continues to see the world in ways that I can identify with.
In a recent article, she contrasts the administrations pre-emptive war with a pre-emptive peace approach. Enlightened to a great extent by her conversations with Europeans, she sees the need for America to emphasize diplomacy within the world community (United Nations). We have to move away from trying to create an empire through military might! We have to move towards dialogue even with those who may well be enemies. We have to see opportunities for peace wherever possible.
In a recent article, she contrasts the administrations pre-emptive war with a pre-emptive peace approach. Enlightened to a great extent by her conversations with Europeans, she sees the need for America to emphasize diplomacy within the world community (United Nations). We have to move away from trying to create an empire through military might! We have to move towards dialogue even with those who may well be enemies. We have to see opportunities for peace wherever possible.
A Better Health System
While I have yet to see "Sicko", the French health care system is viewed as the ultimate system of care. Private healthcare to all within a system of government controlled system.
For those who are unfamiliar with their system, please consider Paul Dutton's overview.
In summary, the system provides healthcare to all that is cheaper by far than that available to Americans. Most of the citizens supplement the national insurance and this is being looked at as an opportunity for change. They are considering the benefits of having the entire system under the government. There is no waiting list. Physicians are free to practice medicine! And there is virtually no administrative charges (going to a physician's office without any clerical support for billing!).
For those who are unfamiliar with their system, please consider Paul Dutton's overview.
In summary, the system provides healthcare to all that is cheaper by far than that available to Americans. Most of the citizens supplement the national insurance and this is being looked at as an opportunity for change. They are considering the benefits of having the entire system under the government. There is no waiting list. Physicians are free to practice medicine! And there is virtually no administrative charges (going to a physician's office without any clerical support for billing!).
Jesus, the Ultimate Politician!
I have never responded positively to much that has come out of the Hoover Institute, but Tod Lindberg's article about the political teachings of Jesus becomes one that I can wholeheartly endorse.
He does not cite the influence of Dominic Crossen, but it is evident.
The basic premise of Jesus' ministry was to alter the existing political hierarchy that he experienced. In short, he advocated a revolution whereby those on the bottom would be on the top not by using the same power tactics, but by acting on his teachings, exemplified by the Beatitudes.
There are two important points: (1) Jesus was not talking just about another world, and (2) we do need to change our behaviors.
For me, the challenge is not to want to "destroy" those in power! I admit that my anger at times wishes some "bad things" to those who do not see the need to work towards a common good for all! I have to work on the need to love those who I totally disagree with!! Hard work for someone like me!
Secondly, we are not looking only for another world! And for this, I am highly critical of church leaders who do not see that the Kingdom of God is achieved through a political realignment. Politics is in need of those with a Jesus attitude! Note, I am not advocating for a religion-based approach. It appears that the official churches have failed to promote the kingdom's values.
Iadmit that I see Obama as advocating an approach that seems to be in line with the teachings of Jesus. Let's hope!
He does not cite the influence of Dominic Crossen, but it is evident.
The basic premise of Jesus' ministry was to alter the existing political hierarchy that he experienced. In short, he advocated a revolution whereby those on the bottom would be on the top not by using the same power tactics, but by acting on his teachings, exemplified by the Beatitudes.
There are two important points: (1) Jesus was not talking just about another world, and (2) we do need to change our behaviors.
For me, the challenge is not to want to "destroy" those in power! I admit that my anger at times wishes some "bad things" to those who do not see the need to work towards a common good for all! I have to work on the need to love those who I totally disagree with!! Hard work for someone like me!
Secondly, we are not looking only for another world! And for this, I am highly critical of church leaders who do not see that the Kingdom of God is achieved through a political realignment. Politics is in need of those with a Jesus attitude! Note, I am not advocating for a religion-based approach. It appears that the official churches have failed to promote the kingdom's values.
Iadmit that I see Obama as advocating an approach that seems to be in line with the teachings of Jesus. Let's hope!
Power Tends to be Arrogant!
Karl Rove has enjoyed a great reputation as a political strategist. One has to assign some adjective to the achievement of getting someone named George W. Bush elected as President!!
The question that will assess his ultimate success is his own benchmark: did the Republican Party obtain a revolution by achieving a major realignment of politics to ensure that their party will maintain domination for a generation.
Independent of my bias that anyone who manipulated the American public in such a gross fashion deserves little praise, three commentators cite reasons for his ultimate failure.
In the current Atlantic Monthly, Karl Rove is noted as a failure for not seeing the negative impact of polarizing Congress. Except for the Education and pharmacy bills passed early in the first administration, none of the signature legislation were enacted. We are now left with such polarization that only time will determine its ultimate impact. Eugene Robinson
in a similar fashion cites his failure to realize that there was a need to work more effectively with Congress.
A friend of the Democrats, James Carville cites that the Republican party has lost an entire generation of former advocates. Rather than realigning the strength of the party, he has ultimately helped the Democrats to regain power.
Power tends to destroy its holders!
The question that will assess his ultimate success is his own benchmark: did the Republican Party obtain a revolution by achieving a major realignment of politics to ensure that their party will maintain domination for a generation.
Independent of my bias that anyone who manipulated the American public in such a gross fashion deserves little praise, three commentators cite reasons for his ultimate failure.
In the current Atlantic Monthly, Karl Rove is noted as a failure for not seeing the negative impact of polarizing Congress. Except for the Education and pharmacy bills passed early in the first administration, none of the signature legislation were enacted. We are now left with such polarization that only time will determine its ultimate impact. Eugene Robinson
in a similar fashion cites his failure to realize that there was a need to work more effectively with Congress.
A friend of the Democrats, James Carville cites that the Republican party has lost an entire generation of former advocates. Rather than realigning the strength of the party, he has ultimately helped the Democrats to regain power.
Power tends to destroy its holders!
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